Canon PowerShot E1 announced!By
Zig Weidelich, The Imaging Resource
(Tuesday, August 26, 2008 - 03:56 EDT)The Canon PowerShot E1 marks a completely new concept for Canon cameras, very much designed for a young, female aesthetic.The Canon E1 is marked by very curvy, rounded contours, and is available in three pastel colors, namely a blue, pearl white, and pink. The styling is something of a hybrid between Canon's ELPH and A-series models, but that's only a very broad generalization: The Canon E1 ultimately has a styling all its own. (Think of the design sense of the Hello Kitty animation figures, and you'll have some idea of its look and feel.)

While it's a significant style departure though, the Canon E1 is still very much a full-fledged Canon camera, with a 10 megapixel sensor, a 4x zoom lens with a range from 35 to 140 mm equivalents (a moderate wide angle to modest telephoto) and a 2.5 inch LCD screen on the back, plus an optical viewfinder. Perhaps even more importantly, the Canon E1 incorporates Canon's excellent image stabilization (IS) technology, for steady, blur-free shots under uncertain lighting. (Starting with this series of announcements in late August 2008, Canon tells us that all their consumer digital cameras will have IS built-in.) The IS system on the A1000IS lets you capture sharp photos at shutter speeds as much as 8 times slower than you could otherwise hand-hold successfully.

Exposure on the Canon Powershot E1 is fully automatic, but the user can tweak it with up to 2.0EV of exposure compensation and four metering modes to handle difficult lighting, including a mode which ties metering and white balance to the camera's face detection system. Eleven scene modes and a new "Easy" mode keep the Canon E1 approachable for beginners, even ones who've never held a camera before. An optional long-exposure mode in the Canon E1 lets you set exposure times as long as 15 seconds manually, and a 2.5" LCD display plus a real-image optical zoom viewfinder - rather rare on digicams these days - helps you frame your images.

The Canon E1 derives its power from a pair of AA batteries (so common that you need never worry about running out of power while traveling), and can capture up to 220 shots on a fresh set of alkaline batteries with the LCD on (CIPA method).

As noted, the Canon E1 is designed to appeal to a rather young, predominantly female crowd. For the same basic camera in a more elegant, classically styled case, check out the Canon A1000IS.

The Canon PowerShot E1 is slated to be available beginning in mid-September, 2008, at a suggested retail price of $199.99.

COLORFUL, PLAYFUL AND PACKED WITH FEATURES, THE NEW POWERSHOT E1 DIGITAL CAMERA IS DESIGNED WITH A YOUTHFUL TWIST

First Offering in New Line of Canon PowerShot E-Series Cameras Targeted to Youth Market

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., August 26, 2008 - Canon U.S.A., a leader in digital imaging, is expanding its iconic PowerShot digital camera line with the introduction of its new, stylish and easy-to-use PowerShot E1 digital camera, targeted to the teen and tween markets. Whether taking photos with a "BFF" at a slumber party, snapping shots while watching a hot band perform or capturing cap-and-gown moments for a scrapbook or brag book, the PowerShot E1 digital camera offers just the right combination of intuition and style. Sporting a rounded and curvy, yet trendy form factor, the camera comes packed with the features and technology consumers have come to expect from Canon, but with a friendly price-point of $199*. This camera incorporates a 10-megapixel resolution, 4x Optical Zoom-lens; with Optical Image Stabilization, Canon's Face Detection Technology and Easy Mode.

Ideal for the on-the-go, fashion-conscious teen who relishes being a trendsetter, the PowerShot E1 digital camera is available in three new eye-catching colors including white, blue and pink. Teens and tweens can now capture every "OMG moment," with the option of 17 shooting modes, including Easy Mode and Scene Mode. In Easy Mode, the camera limits the shooting and playback functions to the basics for easy operation, creating ease-of-use for even the most entry-level camera owner. What's more, consumers will never miss a shot, either home or away, because the camera uses readily available AA batteries.

"Canon keeps photography fun and inspiring for memory-seekers of all ages by producing a camera that is relevant to a younger market," said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "With our new E-series line of products, Canon is offering the opportunity to experience the joy of digital photography, with the style, quality and price-point they can afford."

Taking customization and expression to the max, the PowerShot E1 digital camera includes exclusive options, such as customizable shutter, start-up and operation sounds. Start-up screens and menus can be perfectly coordinated with the camera's body color, bringing an additional level of personalization to the camera. And if still images just aren't enough to capture an unpredictable moment, the PowerShot E1 digital camera has video recording capabilities with long-play mode, which allows longer recording times at the same recording pixel and frame rate.

Availability and Pricing Scheduled to be available in mid-September, the PowerShot E1 digital camera will have a suggested selling price of $199.99*.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked third overall in the U.S. in 2007†, with global revenues of $39.3 billion, is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is on the 2007 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/pressroom.

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*Prices are estimated retail prices. Actual selling prices are set by dealers and may vary. Availability, specifications and prices are subject to change without notice.All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.† IFI Patent Intelligence Press Release, January 2008